RV Summer School: An Educational Road Trip That Kids Will Actually Enjoy

A generation of parents who were raised on The Magic Schoolbus can now bring that experience to life for their children. We don’t recommend you shrink your RV, or take part in any of Ms. Frizzles’ daring antics—but imagine the lasting memories that could be created by visiting places like the ones below.

If you want to keep your kids engaged this summer while soaking up some new knowledge, why not add some fun field trips to your RVing route? With all the RVing possibilities in scenic Ontario, Canada you can cater an entire itinerary to their interests—and yours!

The first lesson? Finding out just how BIG Ontario is and what it has to offer.

Here is our guide to a summer school curriculum your kids will actually enjoy. 

For the History Buffs 

• Gore Bay (Janet Head) Lighthouse on Manitoulin Island: learn about the fascinating and sometimes heart-wrenching history of the lighthouse. The stories, including some from the first keeper's experience with the lighthouse, help to shine a light on the living conditions during its prime. 

• The Pictographs of Lake of the Woods are an amazing piece of visible history. They can be spotted from a boat, which you can rent from Harris Hill Resort, or hire a fishing guide for a sightseeing tour of the lake. You’ll likely also see eagles, pelicans and other wildlife while you’re out. 

• Agawa Rock Pictographs: this 0.8km trail in Lake Superior Park is a great experience for the history buff. There is something quite special about seeing these near-ancient paintings in person.

• White River is the birthplace of Winnie the Pooh. Need we say more? Don’t miss out on Winnie’s Hometown Festival August 16-18th, 2024 

• The Smallest Church in Canada: found in Emo, Ontario. This tiny chapel is quite the wonder to see—make sure you drive slowly going into town because it's easy to look over! 

• Macleod Provincial Park: located on the shores of Kenogamisis Lake just outside of Macleod and Geraldton. Named after an abandoned gold mine, this lake offers camping, swimming, bird watching, fishing and a chance to see the northern lights on a clear night.

Geology for Rockhounds 

• Bancroft, Ontario—Mineral Capital of the World: The Bancroft Mineral Museum, Princess Sodalite Mine, and The Gem Shop, or plan your trip around the famous Rockhound Gemboree.  

• Dynamic Earth and Science North in Sudbury, Ontario. Open year-round, you can tour the mine and go see the Big Nickel which is 64,607,747 times larger than any nickel in your pocket! 

• Amethyst Alley in Pearl Ontario. Check out one or all of the Amethyst Mines where you can prospect your very own amethyst!

  • Blue Point

  • Diamond Willow

  • Panorama 

Phys. Ed. for the Future Athletes and Daredevils

• Wild Goose Beach: A great place for a swim, located in the Municipality of Shuniah, Ontario.

• Sioux Narrows Provincial Park: Straddling Willow and Regina Bay on Lake of the Woods this provincial park offers crystal clear waters on a lake over one million acres in size!

• Quetico Provincial Park:  A paddlers and trekkers mecca, this quiet park is the perfect place to explore waterfalls, hiking trails and swimming beaches, and it is also rich with history. 

• Eagle Canyon Adventures: visit Canada’s Suspension Foot Bridge and zip line the canyon!

• Voyageur’s Trail:  Along the shores of Huron and Superior has several loop options for RV campers, see RVing the Voyageur’s Trail for more information:

• Treetop Trekking in Huntsville: Enjoy this unique experience with tailored trips for all ages, even those as young as 5 will find activities here! 

Science for the Open-Minded 

• Science North: Sudbury is proud to be home to this incredible museum and educational centre where something for everyone can be found. From a planetarium to a living butterfly gallery there are ever-changing exhibits and events for the entire family to get involved. There are also Sensory Sundays, for children who require a quieter place to take everything in.

• Explore the Great Lakes Coastlines for washed-up fossils, sea glass, arrowheads, ancient coral and more. You never know what you might find on your next beach walk to stretch your legs. For an additional challenge, give the kids a scavenger list of colours and shapes to look for, such as a heart-shaped rock!

• Science North Think Hubs are located in North Bay, Kenora, Fort Frances, Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and Timmins!

• The Sault Ste. Marie and the Thunder Bay Science Festivals happen early every spring, the kids may not be out of school yet, but they still offer a unique experience for the family to enjoy and learn together, rather than just hearing about it later as a parent!

• The Sault Ste. Marie Locks are a wonder of human engineering and ingenuity. Spend the day learning about how the locks operate, watch the boats pass through, and take a tour on the Miss Marie to get up close and personal with this popular tourist destination.

Ecology for the Naturalists

• Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat: this sanctuary is the world’s only non-profit refuge for polar bears who require human care. Open year-round, this facility is a fantastic place to learn more about polar bears, and it always has events going on!   

• Misery Bay Provincial Park on Manitoulin Island: this day-use park is an excellent place to visit for gorgeous views of Lake Huron, interesting rock formations along the water, and boasts a globally significant ecosystem and rare plants.

• Haliburton Forest Wolf Centre: watch the wolves through one-way glass while they interact with one another and their natural surroundings. This wheelchair-accessible facility also has a self-guided museum and exhibit as well as a gift shop.

• Kettle Lakes Provincial Park (near Timmins): The park's lakes were carved out by glaciers some millions of years ago, leaving 22 very deep spring-fed clear lakes for you to explore. This lake offers trailer camping as well as car camping with swimming beaches and hikes nearby.

• Fishing Tournaments over Northwest Ontario such as the Kenora Bass International (KBI) August 8-10th take place every year and stress the importance of catch-and-release fishing. These accessible events are perfect for your young angler to experience the hype and excitement around fishing, while also getting a chance to meet some of the best anglers in Canada and the U.S.

Social Sciences for the Social Butterflies

Who doesn't love a summer fair or outdoor concert? With live music often comes good food and plenty of events or games for kids. You can also add a Pow Wow onto your itinerary to share a social history experience with your kids—they can also be found all over Ontario throughout the spring, summer and fall season.

Find more Sunset Country Pow Wows here, or look here for a complete list of Ontario's 2024 Pow Wows.

There are so many events going on all summer long throughout the province! Check out these summer event guides to find some in your area of choice:

• Sunset Country Summer Event Calendar

• Sudbury Summer Festivals

•  North Bay Summer Festivals

• Thunder Bay Summer Festivals

A few other interesting family-friendly events to look into:

• International Friendship Gardens located downtown Thunder Bay you can walk through this beautiful nod to the city’s diverse population.

• Timmins Multicultural Dinner and Dance September 7, 2024

• Dalles First Nation Pow Wow: July 19-21 at Niisaachewan Anishinaabe First Nation in Kenora

• Matiowski Farmers Market: In Kenora. Every Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. until October 2, 2024.

• Country on the Bay: Thunder Bay

• Temagami Viking Fest: August 3, 2024

CBC Sudbury covered 2023’s Viking Fest, noting the accurately depicted village and garb of the reenactors. A unique event where you “will be transported 1,300 years back in time to get a vivid glimpse of the Viking way of life.”

• Dryden Fall Fair: August 22-24

• Shake the Lake Kenora: August 3, 2024

In addition to world-class entertainment, Shake the Lake brings out food trucks, classic car shows, a harbourfront market and much more! Check out their website for a complete schedule of events for an all-around good time for the whole family.

Resources

Really, that's just the beginning of the possibilities, but hopefully these suggestions get you started. If you’d like to add more to your itinerary, be sure to check out the following resources for events, organizations, trailheads, educational centres, and more throughout Ontario. Happy exploring!

• Find more articles from Northern Ontario Travel

• Sunset Country Events

• Algoma Country's list of events for the season

• Northeastern Ontario

• Superior Country

• Destination Ontario